The Touchwood Project

I’m thinking about beauty in design today, and how underrated yet essential it is. Something beautiful invites you in, welcomes you and uplifts you. Something ugly tells you to stay the hell away.

Today I remembered that while searching for a place to learn aikido.

A childhood dream

Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted to learn martial arts. I love Yimou Zhang’s films (Hero, House of Flying Daggers), Jackie Chan, Jet Li, as well as the lesser-known martial arts films with women like Michelle Yeoh in them. Fantastic!

Women can kick ass too

The ability to defend myself, to use my body in such an exciting way, was what first drew me. Now I’m interested in the philosophical side as well, of learning a way to be in the world that’s peaceful without being a victim.

That led me to one type of martial arts called aikido.

Aikido and going with the flow

The basic understanding I have of aikido is that you are working with your opponent’s energy to disarm them. So it doesn’t matter how big, strong or young you are, since you are using another’s force and movement to deflect their attack, rather than outright counterattacking.

You're never too old to learn aikido

I love the idea that you and your opponent are working together, that rather than overt confrontation, you are stepping aside and redirecting.

I think there are so many useful lessons from this approach that apply to how to be happy, how to make a difference in a world where, as you try to change things, you inevitably come into conflict.

OK, where can I learn aikido?

A quick Google search reveals that the closest place to Orkney that teaches aikido is near Inverness, so a 90-minute ferry ride and 2 hour train and £45 or so cost each time. Not practical.

Then I tried Amazon to see if there was a, oh I don’t know, Dummies Guide to Aikido or something which can teach the beginner. No luck.

There are DVDs, but none of them take on the task of instructing a pupil from the very beginning. And really, watching bodies fall left and right, it strikes me that yes, you probably do need a floor with special mats and padding to absorb the impact. Unless you did it outside in the grass? Or perhaps the beach would work.

So I think to myself, well, maybe I can make a special trip somewhere and at least learn the basics. Get some fundamentals and come home and practice with Malcolm, who happily, also wants to learn.

The just not very attractive public face of aikido

The problem is, many aikido websites are so uninviting: outdated, using lurid colours, fuzzy photos or just clunky, awkward language about how long the instructor has trained and where — with lots of jargon thrown in. It’s just not inviting for the newbie.

Add to that the actual dojos themselves — lots of flourescent lighting, absolutely no windows so you feel like you’re in a basement, and concrete walls. It’s depressing, off-putting.

Would you want to learn here?

The killer blow to any idea of going to one of these is the photo of grim-faced men — maybe the occasional woman if I’m really lucky — in funny-looking clothes, lined up as if for a firing squad.

Very serious. The light-hearted need not apply.

I don’t want to go here! I’m already apprehensive enough about the idea of learning something as daunting as martial arts without everything else putting me off.

Surely appearance doesn’t matter?

All of this sounds superficial. Surely one’s desire to learn something as noble-sounding as martial arts shouldn’t be so easily discouraged? Surely appearance is unimportant?

Well I don’t think so. Beauty is essential in all things. Walking into a dojo whose architecture and interior is carefully planned, with attention to the mood that’s created, makes an enormous difference to your attitude. I believe a beautiful space creates calm, reverence, an ability to focus on the present far more easily.

Appealing to women

And while we’re at it, recognising that women are a key market and therefore catering to them through how you present your dojo on the website and in person is also essential. A welcoming, more personal tone would be appreciated, one that would address the usual anxieties many women have about doing something as male-dominated as martial arts. Having some decent lighting — particularly natural lighting — and tasteful colours would be great.

Know of any beautiful aikido dojos?

Sadly, I’ve been unable in my Google searching to find any such place. If you know of any, I hope you’ll let me and others know, since these places deserve to be praised and known.

And let me say I don’t mean to insult anybody, I just get frustrated when people don’t take design, aesthetics and beauty seriously. I’m sure there are many wonderful, welcoming people in aikido, so it’s no reflection on them.

Until I find an attractive, welcoming dojo, aikido will just have to wait. I’ll console myself with the thought that I’ll still be able to learn it when I’m 60.

Tags: good design, personal development

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